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Wednesday, May 25, 2016

In defense of her husband, Don Augusto Ruffo di Calabria

In a letter to the Duke of Castro, Princess Tana of Windisch-Graetz, the wife of Prince Augusto Ruffo di Calabria, offered with "great regret" her resignation from the Constantinian Order of Saint George She has made it clear that she no agreed with ‘most of the ideals of your Order", having witnessed her husband’s "sincerity and the dedication he put in to the job that you have entrusted to him as Grand Prefect.”

Princess Tana noted that her husband devoted “a great deal of his time to deal with a lot of problems, neglecting his work and family by driving to talk to you.” Prince Augusto, as the Order’s Grand Prefect, also served as the Order's primary problem solver.

Prince Augusto paid all the expenses of\ his office and staff, and according to his wife, “convinced many of his friends and family to support the Order." The prince, a devout Roman Catholic, wanted the Order to have an active role to “organize Pilgrimages not only with the Knights, but also with people in need.”

According to his wife, Prince Augusto, was “abruptly” and “ungratefully” removed from his post. Princess Tana told the Duke of Castro “deserved a better friend, especially as he only wanted for the good of the Order and your respect as Grand Master? “

The Prince and Princess are both appalled by the Duke of Castro’s behavior, toward the Prince and other officials with the order. Princess Tana was furious that the Duke of Castro, whose daughter is one of Prince Augusto’s godchildren, did not have the courtesy to telephone the Prince before dismissing him as Grand Prefect.

Princess Tana told the duke that she could not longer be a part of a Sacred Order with these principles and do not believe in it anymore, I am sorry. But if one day the Order's mission of dedicating itself to the poor and sick is restored then call me and I shall be there always.”

Don Augusto Ruffo di Calabria, Prince of Scilla, is the second son of the late Don Fabrizio, Prince Ruffo di Calabria-Santapau, Prince di Palazzo, Prince of Scilla, Marchese di Licodia, Duca di Guardia Lombarda. His older brother, Don Fulco, is the present Prince Ruffo di Calabria. He has been married twice, but has no children. Prince Augusto, 60, is the heir presumptive to his brother’s title. His paternal aunt, Paola, is the wife of King Albert II of the Belgians.

He married HSH Princess Irma (Tana) of Windisch-Graetz in 1980. They have three children: Donna Fabrizia (1981) and the twins, Don Francesco and Donna Maria Scilla (1984.) She was born in 1951, the eldest child of Maximilian, Prince of Windisch-Graetz, and Maria Luisa Serra di Gerra. She has a younger sister, Maximliane, who is married to the Prince of Fürstenberg, and two younger brothers, Mariano-Hugo, Prince of Windisch-Graetz, and Prince Manfred.

The Prince and Princess are active in numerous Roman Catholic charities. Both are devastated and saddened by the recent controversial actions made by the Duke of Castro. They are not the only former members of the Order who have expressed their views, privately and publicly. Don Augusto has also made his views known in a letter made public.

I am grateful that I have been allowed to quote from the Princess Tana's letter in order to highlight the increasing calls for concern in the Italian Order of the Constantinian. The concerns go beyond the Duke's decision to name his elder daughter, Princess Maria Carolina, as his heir. Several high officials, including Prince Augusto, have pointed out alleged financial irregularities with the Order.

Now available for purchase: a well-researched, footnoted article on the life of Grand Duke Michael Mikahilovich of Russia, whose marriage to Countess Sophie von Merenberg was unequal, but a love match. I wrote this piece some years ago for Royalty Digest, and now again available. The price is $5.00 (and will be sent to you as a PDF). Just click on the Buy Now link for purchase. Thanks.

The Gleichens: the Unknown Royal Cousins

My article, The Gleichens: the Unknown Royal Cousins, is now available through Kindle on Amazon, in all the Amazons' Kindle stores. This link is for US Amazon. The price is $9.99. Just visit your Amazon and go to the Kindle store, search for my article. The article runs more than 50 pages! And who were the Gleichens: Prince Victor of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (nephew of Queen Victoria) and his family. His marriage to Lady Laura Seymour was considered unequal, and his wife and children were created Countesses and Count Gleichen. A German title but very English people .... Feodora, Edward, Valda and Helena .. all talented and interesting people. True junior royals.

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Sources

The sources consulted for this blog include the New York Times, the Chicago Daily Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, the Associated Press, the Washington Post, and The Times. I also consult books and other materials in my personal library. All the photos come from my personal collection, unless other noted.